A round-up of Sunday's action in the South American World Cup qualifiers.
Argentina can look forward to a mouthwatering Copa America semi-final clash with Brazil after delivering a much-improved display to beat Venezuela 2-0 in the quarter-finals in their first game at the Maracana since losing the 2014 World Cup final.
Orlando City midfielder Kaka is the highest-paid Major League Soccer player for a third consecutive year with over $7 million in annual earnings, according to figures released by the MLS Players Union on Tuesday.
Mexico won the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday with a 4-2 victory over the United States in a hugely entertaining final played in front of 93,000 fans.
Aymeric Laporte's late header sealed a deserved 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur
Javier Hernandez and Giovani dos Santos both scored twice as defending champions Mexico routed Cuba 5-0 in the Gold Cup on Thursday to become the first team to reach the quarter-finals.
IMAGES from Premier League matches played on Sunday.
FIFA's Technical Study Group (TSG) on Friday shortlisted three players for the Hyundai Best Young Player award, which is presented to the best young footballer in this year's World Cup.
Earlier in the night, Bolivia were denied their first win when Kaku scored with 18 minutes remaining to rescue a 2-2 draw for home side Paraguay in Asuncion.
A stunning goal from Siphiwe Tshabalala almost gave hosts South Africa the perfect start to the World Cup before they were held to a 1-1 draw in front of almost 85,000 fans at Soccer City on Friday.
Mexico proved too sharp for World Cup holders Italy by beating them 2-1 in a warm-up match on Thursday for this month's tournament in South Africa.
Germany midfielder Julian Draxler has joined Paris St Germain on a four-and-a-half year contract from VfL Wolfsburg, the French champions said on Tuesday. The 23-year-old was a member of the victorious Germany squad at the 2014 World Cup. "For the first time in my career I will discover a new country, a new league and I am very proud to take this step in one of the best clubs in Europe," Draxler said in a club statement.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker scored a stunning header in the fifth minute of stoppage-time as Liverpool snatched a 2-1 victory at the death against relegated West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on Sunday.
Lionel Messi was sent off before half-time and then angrily hit out at "corrupt" tournament organisers after Argentina beat Chile 2-1 to win a bad-tempered third-place playoff at the Copa America on Saturday.
With United unable to sign a replacement, the pressure will be on 21-year-old England forward Marcus Rashford to deliver the goals in a more central role than he has previously operated in.
The United States suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat by Mexico in the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup at Giants Stadium on Sunday.
Villarreal landed a stunning blow on a potential rival for a European qualification berth when Giovani dos Santos and Ikechukwu Uche each struck twice in a 5-1 drubbing of Real Sociedad in La Liga on Monday.
Barcelona's Brazilian midfielder was granted dual nationality by Spain.
Barcelona's Brazil forward Ronaldinho was granted dual nationality by Spain on Monday, the Primera Liga club said.
Ronaldinho delighted Chinese fans by scoring with a trademark free kick in a 3-0 win for Barcelona over Beijing Guoan on Sunday.
Manchester City to beat second-tier Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 and reach the FA Cup quarter-finals but Jose Mourinho's problems piled up as his Tottenham Hotspur side were bundled out in a penalty shootout by Norwich City.
IMAGES from soccer matches played in the English Premier League and the La Liga on Monday.
Barcelona fell to a first home defeat in any competition for more than two years
'Whenever I talk with Leo, we always say 'Pray that one day it happens for us'. It's what he wants and it's what we all want. I put myself in his shoes and I want to do the best'
Brazilian veteran Kaka is the highest paid player in Major League Soccer, with a 2016 guaranteed salary of $7.167 million, according to figures released by the Players' Union on Thursday.
Tottenham Hotspur missed the chance to move up to provisional fourth place in the Premier League after relegation-threatened Newcastle United held them to a 2-2 draw with a late equaliser from substitute Joe Willock at St James' Park on Sunday. Images from EPL matches played on Sunday.
Images from Sunday's action in the Premier League.
Two headers from Robbie Keane just after halftime gave LA Galaxy a 2-1 win over Dallas in Major League Soccer on Saturday, lifting them top of the Western Conference after Vancouver lost to Sporting Kansas City.
The draw means second-placed Atletico Madrid could close the 12-point gap with Barcelona, who are on 74 points, if they beat Celta Vigo later on Saturday.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice on his LA Galaxy debut, including a winner in stoppage time, as his new team battled back from three goals down to defeat the upstart LAFC 4-3 in a thrilling match on Saturday.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Wednesday.
Summary of World Cup qualifiers played across the world on Thursday
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Spanish winger Asensio cost Real a mere 3.5 million euros from Mallorca in 2014 and entered the game only in the 79th minute but played a decisive role in Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo each scoring late on to give the European champions the edge in the tie.
Arsenal had scored 10 goals in two matches against BATE Borisov in the same competition in 2017 but never looked like being as prolific in the freezing temperatures of Belarus.
Producing an inspirational performance, FC Goa demolished Delhi Dynamos 3-0 in the second leg semi-final to breeze into the summit clash of the Indian Super League (ISL), at Margao on Tuesday night. En route their entry into the final, FC Goa recorded a better goal aggregate of 3-1 after the two semi-final legs.
Two goals in the first half from Roberto Firmino and Neymar gave Brazil an easy 2-0 victory over the United States in a friendly match in New Jersey on Friday.
Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek had a Europa League night to remember by scoring the first hat-trick of his career as the midfielder inspired them to a 3-1 home win over Belarus champions BATE Borisov on Thursday.
European champions Portugal spurned a two-goal lead against Tunisia, stumbling to a 2-2 draw, as France, one of the World Cup favourites, flexed their muscles with a comfortable 2-0 win over Ireland in warm-up friendlies on Monday.
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